Although veterinary traineeships are considered the same as other traineeships within the Erasmus+ program, the veterinary medicine curriculum has specific requirements and limitations for practical training: where they should be performed and what tasks should be completed during the training to achieve the necessary learning outcomes. Before planning your training, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the descriptions of the trainings required in your curriculum and base your choice on that.
The most important information about scholarships and general procedures can be found on the Erasmus+ practical traininglink opens in new page page.
Choosing the place for your training
You can do your traineeship at a university clinic, private clinic, or farm, depending on the type of training you want to do.
The goal of this training is to consolidate, deepen, and develop the theoretical knowledge acquired in the field of veterinary medicine. During the traineeship, you will gain work experience and skills for independent professional work. In addition to performing specific tasks, you will also familiarize yourself with various aspects of the company's activities and get a detailed overview of the entire operational mechanisms of the company.
A suitable traineeship location would be a farm. Here are a few where our students have participated in recent years:
Blue footed donkey farmlink opens in new page (Portugal, the Azores)
Mouries farmlink opens in new page (Greece)
Finnstadirlink opens in new page (Iceland)
Lagafelllink opens in new page (Iceland)
The aim of the course is to acquire practical knowledge and skills in the behavior, feeding, and clinical examination of healthy and sick animals, or to learn artificial insemination techniques for livestock.
A good place to complete your traineeship would be at an animal clinic, preferably a private one, as university clinics typically do not accept students for traineeships until the end of their fourth year. Here are some clinics where our students have gone in recent years.
Cyprus Wildlife Research Institutelink opens in new page (Cyprus)
Centro Veterinario Specialisticolink opens in new page (Italy)
In the veterinary medicine curriculum, the spring semester of the fifth year is designated for a traineeship at a university clinic.
The purpose of the traineeship is to gain experience in the treatment and disease prevention of small animals. During the clinic traineeship, students acquire basic skills and are given as diverse an experience as possible in clinical veterinary medicine at a modern level.
The following traineeships must be completed:
Practical training in small animal medicine - 6 weeks
Practical training in equine medicine - 4 weeks
Practical training in production animal medicine - 4 weeks
The traineeship must be completed at an EAEVElink opens in new page-accredited university clinic, so there is a wide range of options available. The host institution for an Erasmus+ traineeship doesn't have to be one of our partner universities.
We collaborate with many reputable European universities that host our students every year. While each university has its own specific requirements, the best overview can be found on the Padlet page.
By the sixth year, veterinary medicine students choose the field they wish to specialize in and must complete one of the following ten-week traineeships:
- Clinical Traineeship in Production Animal Medicine
- Clinical Traineeship in Small Animal Medicine
- Clinical Traineeship in Equine Medicine
The traineeship can be completed at either a private or university clinic. The goal of the traineeship is to consolidate and develop the students' clinical skills and experience. In recent years, this traineeship has been completed abroad at various clinics, including:
University of Ghentlink opens in new page (Belgium)- to apply there, you need to submit an application to us in the autumn of your 6th year. You will receive information about this through ÕIS when it's time.
Pohjois-Suomen Eläinsairaalalink opens in new page (Finland)
Lehmätiimi OY link opens in new page(Finland)
Centro Veterinário de Exóticos do Portolink opens in new page (Portugal)
If you wish to complete a traineeship in addition to your curriculum, this is also possible. We encourage you to take advantage of every opportunity to gain extra experience. Currently, we are able to provide financial support for such traineeships.
You can also undertake a traineeship after graduation — more details on this can be found herelink opens in new page.
Pay attention!
Traineeship Duration
If you wish to apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship for your traineeship, the duration must be at least 60 consecutive days in one host institution. The veterinary medicine integrated curriculum students can participate in Erasmus+ mobility for up to 24 months. If you're planning a shorter traineeship, especially in the Baltic or Nordic countries, you can apply for a Nordplus scholarship.
Deadlines
We accept applications for traineeship funding throughout the year. If you wish to apply to a university clinic, make sure to check if there is a specific application deadline. Otherwise, applications should be submitted to us at least one month before the start of your traineeship.
Karoli Kõiv
Chief Specialist of Foreign Affairs
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs’ area of responsibility
Department of Academic Affairs
+372 7313026
+372 7313026